Youth Program Registration Information

Registration & Enrollment Criteria

Students and parents must follow the City of Austin and Dougherty Arts School policies regarding safety, discipline, enrollment and programming which are printed in the City of Austin Local Standards of Care ordinance, registration materials, and parent handbooks available on this page or on the Centralized Programs Documents website.

Enrollment is secured with full payment for the class. If payment is not received by the due date, the spot will be forfeited and offered to a child on the waitlist.

CLICK HERE to Register Online!

Register Online Image link


Payment Information

Full payment for all PARD and Dougherty Arts Center’s youth activities or programs are due at the time of registration, or on its due date, to secure your place in our programs. 

Deposits

Some programs require deposits upon program registration. Participants who pay the deposit for a session are secured a place in that session until the remaining balance is due. Full payment of the activity fee at the time of registration will secure your place in a session; this is greatly encouraged.

  • Deposits are non-refundable.
  • If outstanding balances are not received by the designated due dates, your child will be removed from the program and the deposit will be forfeited.
  • Once registration is forfeited, re-enrollment will require a separate deposit (if applicable), along with full payment.
  • Summer Camp deposits are applied to the respective session.
  • Requests to transfer deposit/payment between PARD program sites may be permitted prior to the program’s designated outstanding balance due date.

After School

  • After School students are guaranteed a spot in consecutive months as long as payments are made by the due date.
  • Re-enrollment must be done with each new school year.
  • Full payment is due by the 15th of each month prior to the next month’s start date.
  • If the 15th falls on a weekend or holiday, payment is due the following business day.
  • If payment is not received by the 20th of the month your child will be dropped from the program, without call, and we will enroll the next child on the waitlist.

Summer Camp

  • Full payment for each session is due 21 calendar days prior to the start of camp.
  • If full balance of payment is not received on the due date for the session, your child will be dropped from the program the day after the session’s due date and their spot will be offered to the next child on the waitlist.

Drops & Refunds

  • Program fees are only refunded in full if the class is canceled by the Dougherty Arts Center or the Parks and Recreation Department.
  • For drops requested at least 7 days before the program start date, you will receive a refund minus a 35.00 nonrefundable administrative fee.
  • There are no refunds for drops requested after the 7-day period before any Dougherty Art Center youth program or activity start date.

Checks

  • All checks received by PARD program sites are promptly processed.
  • We cannot accept postdated checks.
  • A fee will be charged for returned checks.

Waitlist

  • Participants that register after the program has filled can be added to the waitlist.
  • No fee is required to be added to waitlist.

Program Forms & Documents

For the most current, updated information and required materials to register for and attend City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department programs, click the image link directly below for the Centralized Program Documents website:

Centralized forms and documents for city  Youth programs

Forms & Documents Available at the Centralized Programs Documents website include:

  • Youth Participation Registration & Waiver Form (Various Languages)

    • Waivers for students under the age of 18 are required and must be completed and signed by the parent/guardian before the student can participate in enrolled programs.

  • Youth Program Parent Handbook (English & Español)

  • COVID-19 Programming Participation Guidelines and Essential Eligibility

  • Local Standards of Care Ordinance

  • Permission to Give Medication Form

Visit the Centralized Programs Documents website for more details.

Child Placement Policy

Group lists are made a week prior to the first day of camp or class following the guidelines of the Child Placement Policy. Students are placed in groups for camps/classes according to their age, determined by birth date. Camp, group, and class sizes must conform to the City of Austin Local Standards of Care Ordinance and the Parks and Recreation Department's adult-to-student ratios.

  • Youth Class Request Form (PDF)
    For a student to be placed in a different group, class, or camp other than the one assigned to them based on age.

    • Requests must be submitted 7 days prior to the first day of the program.
    • Placement is not guaranteed and subject to approval by program administration.
  • Youth Friend Request Form (PDF)
    For students who wish to be placed in the same group, camp, or class together.

    • Only one request per student is permitted during a program.
    • Both families must submit the form for the Friend Request in order to be considered valid.
    • Requests must be submitted 7 days prior to the first day of the program.
    • Placement is not guaranteed and subject to approval by program administration

Sign-In and Out Permission

Your child’s safety is our primary concern. Parents/guardians are required to escort participants into and out of the program site each day and sign each child in and out of the day’s activities.

  • Other than a parent/guardian, only persons listed as “emergency and non-custodial release contacts” on the Registration and Waiver Form may pick up and sign out a child.
  • Proper ID is required before staff will release a child at pick up.
  • Please Note: After school participants that are transported from school will be signed in by staff.
  • If participants are not picked up by the program end time, late fees may apply.

Other Parent Handbooks

Dougherty Arts Center Site and/or Program Specific Parent Handbooks:


Financial Aid

Click the image link below to visit the Parks and Recreation Department's Financial Aid website:

Financial Assistance for Youth Programs (in various languages)

Inclusion Services

The City of Austin is committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Reasonable modifications and equal access to communications will be provided upon request.

If you or your student require assistance for participation in our programs or use of our facilities, please contact the Inclusion Unit at:

For more information, visit the Inclusion Unit website.